Issue 1

September 27th, 2019

This year, the Rose Key Club chapter is participating in Thirst Project for the first time. Thirst Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the global water crisis by building freshwater wells in developing communities.

“It is a Key Club international initiative to raise awareness and funds for Thirst Project, which provides clean drinking water for [those who need it],” Key Club advisor Molly Chandler said. “It brings awareness to the fact that we just want a bottle of cold water from the fridge, and people are having to walk miles to get clean drinking water, [which is] something that everybody should have.”

Thirst Project is a preferred partner for Key Club, and some chapters plan club walks

months in advance. This is the first year the Rose chapter is participating, so they plan to start small.

“We [held] a couple of booths at some of the athletic events to raise awareness and collect funds, and then our club members are going to participate in a walk of 3.75 miles,” Chandler said. “That [is the] average mileage that [people walk] to get clean water, and with that, [members will] raise money on their own to donate towards Thirst Project.”

Key Club held a fundraising booth at the Conley baseball game on April 16. The purpose of this booth was to raise funds and awareness for the Thirst Project cause.

“Our Key Clubbers [had] some flyers and some information about Thirst Project, as well as a sports gallon of water,” Chandler said. “[They gave] out water and hopefully [built] awareness and [raised] some money along the way.”

Chandler hopes to hold a club walk for all members to participate in, but understands there might be conflicts. There will be an alternative option for those who cannot attend the walk in person.

“We would like our club to walk together because I feel like that community impact will be greater, and that [walk] is tentatively scheduled for May third downtown,” Chandler said. “However, if students can’t make it, they can walk virtually and send us their mileage via a [tracking] app.”

Key Club’s fundraising goal is $500. The club has around 80 members, and if each member brought in $25, they would exceed this goal. Chandler believes this amount is significant because every $25 donated to the Thirst Project organization provides clean drinking water for one person for their entire life.

Despite starting small this year, Chandler hopes to expand Thirst Project in the future by raising more money and increasing involvement not just at Rose, but within the Greenville community as well.

“We need to make the rest of our club aware of what Thirst Project does so that we can get it out into the community,” Chandler said. “I think that each year, as our club gets bigger and as our organization becomes more involved, we would like to partner with Key Club International and continue to raise awareness in the month of April.”